US has Barrack Obama as its first Kenyan-descent Presidential candidate, even for America, his candidacy is still something unusual. It’s not very often for people with mixed heritage to find his way to government, especially for these who still inherits distinguished physique.
Now I’m still wondering why newspapers haven’t covered this news. Apparently we might encounter similar situation in our country, meet Petra Odebrecht, the first german-born candidate for our House of Representative.
Much of this post translated from this site, since I couldn’t find any site about her written in english.
Petra Odebrecht born a German, 41 years ago in Hamburg. But she decided to scrap her given identity and decided to choose Indonesia as her mother country at the age 0f 30. Now in the age 41, she is betting her luck to enter House of Representative.
Ode Brecht admitted she has been fascinated and interested to Indonesia, and now she’s trying to make a change, by becoming parliementery member. Odebrecht chooses Partai Demokrasi Pembaruan as her boat.
When did you arrive to Indonesia?
I came to Indonesia around 1989. I married with an Indonesian, then we lived in Bandung. It’s only 2 years before we divorced, but he left Indonesia for Netherland, but I decided to live here.Are you parents still residing in Germany?
My mother has passed away long time ago, 1984. My father is still alive. My father and my brother are living in Hamburg. My big brother married with someone from Bandung. But they have been living in Germany for 12 Years
So you are currently living alone in Indonesia?
YesCurrently you are active as politician, nominate yourself as people’s reprsentative, do you have experience in politic?
I’m a nominee. I was offered by Rusdi Ambo Dalle, a collective national leader of PDP. I was offered once, but I back then I didn’t take it to my concern. But some months ago, I was taking care documents to the police as required to nominate myself as legislative candidate. So I was introduced to Mr. Netra (Head Collective Coordinator of PDP Bali, I Nengah Netra), then I followed. I haven’t participated in any party before.Including when you were in Germany?
YesWhat is your reason to participate in Indonesia’s politic?
I have known Mr. Rusdi for quite time since he also lived in Bali, and then Jakarta. His wife is a german, knows me as well. He introduced me to Mr. I Nengah Petra.I was hesistant at first, I was thinking like, what for, but he told me about PDP’s platfform, their idealogy, how the people want to reform, want change. What I like from PDP are 3.First, its system is collective. Everyone there have equal voice. There is no difference.
Second, 42% of the member are women. In Bali, even with demand of 30% quota, we only have 4 women as legislative candidate, and 4 men.
The thrid, it’s pluralistic, you could find people from various religion. I’m Buddhist, Mahayana Buddhist. And Mrs. Farida is Islam. Ibu Agung is Hindu, Ibu Ambar is Islam if I’m not mistaken. All men are Hindu, it’s very open community.Indonesia’s politic is full with corruption, many parliement members are in prison, are you not afraid facing corruption?
No. no. I’m not telling I’m afraid, no. If we don’t do corruption, why must we be afraid? I’m not afraid.Are you prepared to dedicate yourself as parliement member that is free from corruption?
I’m prepared. I need to say that we are team work. we are team in aiming the first, I Nengah Petra is a good man. I know he’s not power-hungry, he’s looking for justice, reformation.You have German blood, you could be easily marked for being not nationalist, what do you say about it?
I have not heard about that, but I’m ready. It’s a critic, but go on. I have taken care all the adminsitration requirements to become candidate. I’m same like everyone else, I must do what ordinary Indonesians do.What do you feel about your nationalism?
Indonesia. I have been living here for long time, 15 years. I don’t want to return to Germany. I want to live here. This is a way to contribute something. If I could I contribute to this country, I will feel proud.How is the preparation so far?
I can’t talk much about it since caderization will be done in in mid november. All candidates will be gathered. I still can’t tell much.What is your electoral vote target?
I still can’t imagine. I could talk about it later after caderization.
Sounds interesting? This lady is made from iron, chinese and european descent in Indonesia have never been been active in politic. Sure you could find some, but their number is not outstanding, and here we have a German-born candidate for our house representative. For some reason she reminds me to Sonia Gandhi who was born Italian, but later found her way to become the most powerful woman in India’s politic. There is actually no problem with you having foreign blood in your vein, the problem is always about the physique. Would you believe me if I said Barrack Obama is a German-descent? I’m sure you wouldn’t. In the end it’s always return to the mother of all discrimination: skin color. There are a lot of people with european descent in Indonesia, but mostly ended as celebrity, some become intellectual like Franz Magnis Suseno, but mostly not active in politic.
I still couldn’t comment whether this is a good thing or not, since it’s stranger than fiction, never crossed in my mind a foreign-born Indonesian nominate themselves to become House of Representative member. But if she succeeded, it would be even more interesting, it will become important moment in history since it never have happened before (cmiw).
Formidable woman. Very unusable career. Exciting and inspiring. She is another example of a new generation of citizens of the world – who can move to, settle, blend in and be part of any society for any period of time.
I stand in awe because obviously she managed to learn to speak ( and read) Bahassa Indonesia as fluently as is necessary for an Indonesian member of parliament.
There have been predecessors though. Like Poncke Princen, ex-Dutch soldier who joined TNI and became Indonesian MP in 1956. According to Wikipedia: “Pada tahun 1956, Princen menjadi politikus populer Indonesia dan menjadi anggota parlemen nasional mewakili Ikatan Pendukung Kemerdekaan Indonesia (IPKI)”
ah, I never heard about Poncke before, thanks for the information colson, I never expect there was case like this before (people with mixed heritage usually ended up as celebrity, I almost never see one become politican) not even in my dream. I’m wondering how this woman would secure her seat though, since she is still potentially seen as foreigner, and not fully recgonized as indonesian.
this is new.
thanks for the info, Calvin.
Ah ndak Pak, banyak kok keturunan european di politik/administrasi. Masalahnya adalah keetnikan mereka tidak jelas terdefinisi, berbeda dengan Tionghoa atau Arab atau Tamil. Diakui atau tidak, Indonesia adalah negara berbasis sistem Barat, warisan budaya yang menjadi afiliasi kaum keturunan eropa/western. Indonesia adalah “milik mereka”.
Faktor lain: jumlah mereka sangat sedikit akibat “diusir” pemerintahan Sukarno sewaktu diberlakukan UU Kewarganegaraan tahun 1957 atau 1958, dan akibat konflik dengan Belanda mengenai status Irian Barat. Ternyata tidak hanya etnik Tionghoa-Indonesia yang jadi korban, tetapi kalangan Eropa-Indonesia juga. Bedanya, mereka yg tinggal di Indonesia bersedia melepaskan identitas keeropaannya (barangkali karena sadar bhw Indonesia toh juga “negara barat”). Perlu diingat, kebanyakan dari mereka adalah berdarah campuran, bukan “murni”.
terima kasih atas komentarnya, oh ya, anda sedang berdomisili di jerman?
interesante